Why teach idioms

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It can also help to keep them all related to a theme. Telling a story can help students understand and remember the meaning behind the words. You can also use stories that contain a lot of idioms, such as the Amelia Bedelia books.

This series is rich in idioms and puns, and with a main character who often completely misinterprets them. Reading and discussing it with your students can be a lot of fun, and a great way to get them thinking about idioms and their meanings. After all, a picture is worth a thousand words, and actions speak louder than words.

Drawing or acting out idioms can make a great review game, too. Have students draw or act out an idiom while the other students try to guess it. Introducing idioms through simple conversations can give students an idea of how the idioms are used in real-life situations.

A great way to teach idioms is to use a theme. For example, you could use all weather-related idioms see this great worksheet! Or teach sports-related idioms with this helpful worksheet. As you can see, there are hundreds of great resources for teaching idioms. Where should you even start? Teaching tips: Start the lesson by talking to your students about feeling awkward. What makes them feel awkward? Give an example of what makes you feel awkward.

Then, present the below dialogue. I keep falling down! I feel like a fish out of water. Teaching tips: Provide the students with two images. One image should be of a broken item such as a broken pencil and one should be an image of a person with no money this is a great one. Sam: I really want to buy that cool hat. Meaning: an unwritten but generally accepted guideline, policy or method of doing something.

Teaching tips : Talk with your students about laws of society. Which ones are actual legal laws? Which ones are social norms or generally accepted rules? Make a list of each. Practice with the below dialogue. Sam: Ooh, sorry! I dropped that handful. Sarah: What? Meaning: undecided or indefinite, usually because often because other matters should be decided first.

Afterward, talk about what your students are currently up in the air about. Then, have them come up with their own sample dialogue. Sarah: Hey, Sam! Sarah: I see. Well, let us know. I hope you can come! Teaching tips: After explaining the meaning of this idiom and practicing the following dialogue, present the class with a debate exercise.

Split the class into two groups, and have each side come up with a different argument to the same issue. Choose an issue you think might be relevant to your students. Have them debate the issue, using the idiom when appropriate. Sarah: Tell me about it. And so that attracts the best doctors in the world who possibly provide some of the best care in the world.

Sam: Well, maybe. Teaching tips: Provide the sample image and have the students guess what they think the idiom means.